State Rep. Bronna Kahle of Adrian introduced House Resolution 120 to declare this June as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. The resolution encourages all residents to wear purple to help spread awareness of the challenges Alzheimer’s brings to families and communities and to encourage the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of imagining a world without Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Kahle, Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the biggest medical and social challenges of our generation, but relatively little has been done to address it. Today, of the top ten causes of death worldwide, Alzheimer’s is the only one that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed down in progression of the disease.
“I know firsthand the unique pain and challenges Alzheimer’s can bring to a family. My own dear father passed away from this devastating disease in 2016,” Rep. Kahle said. “This resolution recognizes the individuals, families, friends, and caregivers who live with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.”
An estimated 5.8 million Americans and almost 200,000 Michiganders live with Alzheimer’s, which has no known treatments to prevent, cure, or delay the onset of the disease.
The resolution was adopted with overwhelming bipartisan support.